Rota community leader backs 99-year lease option, urges tighter safeguards

A community leader on Rota voiced support for extending private land leases up to 99 years but pressed lawmakers to “put more teeth in the law” to protect local landowners during a public hearing last Feb. 25 on Senate Legislative Initiative 24-03 at the Rota Centrum Justicia.

The Senate Standing Committee on Resources, Economic Development, and Workforce, chaired by Corina L. Magofna, convened the hearing to receive testimony on a proposal introduced by Sen. Manny Gregory T. Castro to amend Article 12 of the NMI Constitution.

The measure would increase the maximum term of private land leases from 55 years to 99 years and require financial clauses to protect persons of Northern Marianas descent from exploitation and ensure a fair share of potential upside gains.

The hearing was recorded but not livestreamed due to technical issues, according to the chairwoman.

Rota community leader Rosita Hocogn said the initiative was “long overdue to help the landowners, the private landowners, so that they will not be used, abused by the rich.”

“To me, the protection of the landowner is vital for me to say, because like it was mentioned, a lot of people are not well educated and they don’t know what’s going on or what’s the fair market value,” Hocog said. “But still, we need to put more teeth in the law so that they will not be abused. And doing this, it’s only adding a safeguard for the people, not necessarily the investor.”

Hocog questioned whether the proposal leaned more toward investors.

“Is this initiative designed more for the investors?” she asked. “Because to me, what happens if someone is interested in leasing my land but is not an investor? … Although the one that is going to lease is only going to lease it to build a summer house or just a residence, not to do business.”

She said she agreed with many of the provisions in the initiative, and reiterated that it was long overdue to put some guidelines and safeguards for the people of Rota or the Commonwealth.

However, Hocog recommended shortening the proposed 20-year review period.

“I believe that given our situation right now, it’s so unpredictable,” she said. “And I think we should reduce the 20 to maybe 10. And then if it continues to be like this slow, we should maybe make an amendment to do five. Because 20 is too long, and we are not in that super economic zone right now. We’re in a disaster zone.”

She also asked who would enforce the required financial clauses.

“If I may also ask who will be reviewing all the financial requirement, financial clauses, and whether everybody’s getting a fair cut and not under-the-table issues—like who’s going to be doing this, Department of Commerce or a committee will be reviewing?” Hocog said. “Because I didn’t see any authority on who will be the guiding light for our people and the investors that are coming in.”

While welcoming the 99-year option, she cautioned that restrictions could discourage potential lessees.

“Yeah, 99 years is good, but it could be a turnoff with all the restrictions,” Hocog said. “So we just have to be mindful that it’s a two-way street on this.”

Magofna emphasized that the proposal does not require the landowner to lease up to 99 years and that it is actually optional.

“Right now, as it stands, the law allows for up to 55 years, and this bill proposes to increase that number of years. It is not mandatory. It is optional,” she said, adding that ownership remains with the private landowner.

Magofna said the committee would not deliberate on the bill during the Rota hearing but would continue to accept written comments. Additional hearings are planned on Saipan and Tinian.

Before adjournment, Sen. Paul A. Manglona noted that some residents may not have been aware of the Rota hearing and stressed that the public comment period remains open.

“I just want to announce to the public, as this will be aired, that there is still time for them to … comment on the legislation, Senate Legislative Initiative No. 24-03,” he said.

He added that the measure was passed by the House of Representatives last November, and explained that the intent behind extending the lease term from 55 to 99 years was to clarify the constitutional provisions, conditions, and intentions of the author.